A feast for the eye, a festival and gathering with over 70,000 in attendance at the annual event. Photographs by VS Arrowsmith. Story: Nordic style learning at Hostfest

A gathering of the clan occurred in more ways than just among regular folks at the Norsk Hostfest. Here a nisse from Norway, a tomte from Sweden and Ole Lockøya from Denmark met in the corridors of the North Dakota State Fair Grounds in Minot. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Katelyn Johnson (front row, second from left) has a long relationship with the Scandinavian Youth Camp Swedish Dancers in Minot, ND. She began as a second grader and has been part of the program ever since. She even found time in her busy schedule to participate last year when she was Miss Norsk Hostfest for 2013. This dance group finished its series of performances at the 37th annual Norsk Hostfest on Oct. 4. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Macy Christiansen, Miss Norsk Hostfest 2014, who performed as a Ski Dancer, is here with members of the Scandinavian Youth Camp Swedish Dancers. ENLARGE IMAGE »

The Swedish Dancers visited Crysten Nesseth of Red Cedar Artists to view her whimsical Nordic creatures and characters. In exchange for seeing the exhibit, they sang for her. ENLARGE IMAGE »

All manner of visitors find their way to Minot, North Dakota during the gathering of the tribe at the Norsk Hostfest. Maybe they are accordion players, maybe they are artisans and crafters, or maybe they are a trio of trolls. ENLARGE IMAGE »

The Swedish Dancers visited Crysten Nesseth of Red Cedar Artists to view her whimsical Nordic creatures and characters. In exchange for seeing the exhibit, they sang for her. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Alyssa N., Alyssa B., Destine and Sydney show off a wooden rabbit given to them by Ossien the Norwegian spinner. He showed them some tricks with knots, gave them each a handwoven rabbit hair bracelet, and also gave them rabbits. The girls were part of the Swedish dance performance group. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Bob, Renee and Eric performed on the Troll Stage, a platform raised above a busy intersection within the North Dakota State Fair Grounds. As folks walked by, they were serenaded by peppy Nordic dance tunes on bass, nyckelharpa and guitar. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Woodcarving was offered at Hostfest University in classrooms at Copenhagen Hall. Some objects had a Viking theme while others focused on Norse mythology. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Woodcarving was offered at Hostfest University in classrooms at Copenhagen Hall. Some objects had a Viking theme while others focused on Norse mythology. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Woodcarving was offered at Hostfest University in classrooms at Copenhagen Hall. Some objects had a Viking theme while others focused on Norse mythology. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Sandra Sheppard of Sandstone, MN showed her handwoven Swedish designs at the 37th annual Norsk Hostfest. Her work features wearable and domestic textiles. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Mikkel Gaup, Oscar nominee and actor, performed a joik as part of his cooking demonstration in Helsinki Hall at the 37th Annual Norsk Hostfest.
He had the lead role in the movie “The Pathfinder,” which took second place to “Babette’s Feast” for best foreign film the year he was nominated. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Metis and Native Americans from the Turtle Mountains worked with the Sami and Norwegian people at the Hostfest. Here two peoples met at the Nordic Kitchen where actor and chef Mikkel Gaup shared recipes from northern Norway. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Following the cooking demonstration, audience members lined up to taste a free sample. Gaup, the actor and chef, shared some Sami recipes at the festival’s Nordic Kitchen. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Members of the Tromsø Hall group worked tirelessly to teach, entertain, educate and share culture from the north of Norway. They invited one and all to their exhibition, café and performance areas at the Hostfest. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Paul Wilson and Mary Abendroth stopped to visit with relatives in Stockholm Hall after their performance at the Hostfest. A large Dala horse was the center piece in this area. Mary used her time effectively, knitting while she visited. ENLARGE IMAGE »

A few members of the Hostfest Accordion Club performed for passers-by at the Norsk Hostfest. The Club gathers every year to perform and socialize. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Participants at Hostfest University learned to make Sami bracelets during an all-day workshop at Copenhagen Hall. When asked, each person said it was a very satisfying day and that they would tell others about their positive experience. ENLARGE IMAGE »

Crysten Nesseth, an artisan welder, had a booth filled with her sculptures in Reykjavik Hall at the Norsk Hostfest. She said that welding, which she learned to do about a year ago, is the perfect way to express her creative ideas. She used industrial scrap metal to create whimsical creatures and characters with Nordic themes. Her work can be found on Etsy at RedCedarArtists or at www.redcedarartists.com. ENLARGE IMAGE »